Method and device for de-aerating greases

ABSTRACT

A method of and a device for de-aerating greases, in which the grease to be de-aerated is fed to the inner side of a cylindrical drum which rotates at a high speed. The grease feed rate is continuous and so high that the grease flows along the inner side of the drum in a thin layer, meanwhile discharging air present therein. The thin layer is collected again at some distance from the grease inlet in a stationary duct which extends outside the drum.

United States Patent 1 1 Reinhoudt et al.

[ Oct. 29, 1974 METHOD AND'DEVICE FOR DE-AERATING GREASES [75] Inventors: Jacobus Pieter Reinhoudt; Gerrit Remmers; Jacobus Johannes Cornelius Vandersteen, all of Emmasingel, Eindhoven,

Netherlands [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 421,070

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 321,351, Jan. 5, 1973,

abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 11, 1972 Netherlands 7200351 [52] US. Cl 55/36, 55/52, 55/203, 233/DlG. l, 233/27 [51] Int. Cl B0ld 19/00 [58] Field of Search 55/36, 52, 159, 178, 199,

55/203; 159/6; 210/78, 512; 233/DIG. 1, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,648,496 8/1953 Cresswell 55/203 X 3,213,592 10/1965 Rich 55/178 X 3,396,088 8/1968 Bechard 159/6 R 3,559,879 2/1971 Bechard 159/6 R Primary ExaminerSamih N. Zaharna Assistant Examiner-Richard W. Burks Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrank R. Trifari [5 7] ABSTRACT A method of and a device for de-aerating greases, in which the grease to be de-aerated is fed to the inner side of a cylindrical drum which rotates at a high speed. The grease feed rate is continuous and so high that the grease flows along the inner side of the drum in a thin layer, meanwhile discharging air present therein. The thin layer is collected again at some distance from the grease inlet in a stationary duct which extends outside the drum.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDncI 29 I974 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DE-AERATING GREASES This is a continuation, application Ser. No. 321,35l,

from viscous materials which utilize the upward force,

heating, centrifuging, evacuating etc. cannot be used for greases as these have a flow limit. Due to this flow limit, the air bubbles have no chance of escaping.

The invention provides a method by means of which greases can be very well de-aerated. This method is characterized in that the grease to be de-aerated is fed to .the inner side of a cylindrical drum which rotates at a'high spped, the grease feed-rate being continuous and so high that the grease flows along the inner side of the drum in a thin layer and meanwhile discharges air present therein, the thin layer being collectedagain at some distance from the grease inlet in a stationary duct which extends outside the drum.

By accurate control the supply of grease can be dosed such that it moves as a very thin layer, having a thickness of, for example, about 0.2 mm, from the inlet in the axial direction along the inner side of the drum. Due to the large centrifugal force any air bubbles in this fleece-thin layer will be displaced by the heavier grease, the air bubbles not being hampered, considering the small thickness of the layer and the fact that the grease flows, by the flow limit of the grease.

It was found that air inclusions can thus be removed from the grease to a very large extent.

The invention furthermore relates to a device for performing the described method.

The device comprises an approximately horizontally arranged cylindrical drum which is rotatable, one side of the drum being closed, the other side being provided with a rim having a face which extends transverse to the shaft, a disc being provided inside the drum, the said disc having an outer diameter which is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the drum, the said disc being provided with a shaft which is passed out of the drum through the open side where it is clamped, the disc comprising a number of ducts which extend from the outside inwards where they communicate with a duct which extends to the outside via the said shaft, a further stationary rim being arranged opposite to the said face of the rim of the drum, the further stationary rim having an annular recess facing this face, the said recess communicating, via one or more ducts, with an inlet for the grease to be de-aerated.

By means of this device greases can be properly deaerated in a rather simple manner.

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing which is a diagrammatic representation, by way of example, of a device for de-aerating greases.

The reference numeral 1 in the drawing denotes a cylindrical drum, one side of which is closed by an end face 2 which is connected, via a shaft 3, to a drive sys- Arranged in the drum 1 is a disc 6 whichis journalled on one side, via a bearing 7, on the shaft 3 and which is provided on the other side with a shaft 8 which is clamped at the area 9, by means of screws 10, in a rigid part 11 of the device. The disc 6 has a diameter which is only approximately 0.4 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the drum 1. The disc 6 is furthermore provided with a number of narrow ducts 12 which extend inwards from the outer circumference of the disc and which open into a collecting duct 13. The collecting duct 13 opens into a collecting reservoir 15 for deaerated grease via an outlet l4.-

Arranged about the shaft 8 is a further structural element 16 which is provided with a flange 17 having an annular recess 18 which is situated opposite to the face 5 of the rim 4 of the drum. The annular recess 18 communicates with the supply channel 20 for the grease to be de-aerated.

Communicating with the supply duct 20 is a duct 21 which communicates with a cylinder 22 containing the grease 23 to be de-aerated. The grease 23 can be pressurized by means of a piston 24.

The operation of this device is as follows.

By means of the piston 24, the grease 23 is kept at a given constant pressure, and hence it is continuously fed to the annular gap 18. From there it is taken along between the flange 17 and the face 5, and is rotated with the result that it is spun outwards against the inner side of the drum. The grease is then displaced along the inner side as a very thin layer in the direction of the disc 6 under the influence of the centrifugal force. Upon ar-. rival at the disc 6, the grease is forced into the ducts 12 after which it arrives in the collecting reservoir 15 via duct 13 and outlet 14.

While the grease flows along the inner side of the drum 1 in a very thin layer 25, any air inclusions are forced out of the grease as a result of the centrifugal force, it being possible for the air inclusions to escape readily as a result of the very small thickness of the layer. It is thus possible to remove air very thoroughly from a comparatively large amount of grease per unit of time by means of this device.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of de-aerating greases, comprising feeding the grease to be de-aerated to the inner side of a cylindrical drum which rotates at a very high speed, the grease feed rate being continuous and so high that the grease flows along the inner side of the drum in a thin layer and meanwhile discharges air present therein, collecting the thin layer at some distance from the grease inlet in a stationary duct which extends outside the drum.

2. A device for de-aerating greases comprising an approximately horizontally arranged cylindrical drum which is rotatable on a shaft and which is closed on one end face, a rim on the other end of the drum having a face which extends transverse to the shaft, a disc having an outer diameter which is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the drum being arranged inside the drum, the said disc being provided with a shaft which is passed out of the drum via the open side where it is clamped, a number of ducts in said disc which extend from the outer circumference inwards where they open into a further duct which extends to the outside through the said shaft, a further stationary rim being situated opposite to the said face of the rim of the drum, the said further stationary rim having an annular recess which faces this face, the said recess communicating, through one or more ducts, with an inlet for the grease to be de-aerated.

3. A device for de-aerating greases comprising a rotatably mounted drum having its longitudinal axis horizontally arranged and having one end thereof closed, a rim on the other end of said drum having a face extend transverse to said longitudinal axis, means communicating with the interior of said drum for supplying greases to be de-aerated on to said face of said rim, a

body carried within said drum having an outer diametrical dimension only slightly smaller than the inner diametrical dimension of said drum and having a plurality of ducts extending from the outer circumference of said body radially inward for collecting the greases supplied to said drum, and means communicating with said ducts for collecting said de-aerated greases and passing said greases to the outside ofsaid drum.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said drum is carried on a rotatable shaft, and wherein said body is a disc carried on a shaft extending out of the open side of said drum, and a further duct extending through said shaft communicating with said plurality of ducts.

fgpggj UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5,844,738 I Dated. October 29, 1974 Inventor(s) JA'coBUs' PIETER VREIINHOIUDT' ET AL I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

I Claim 1, line 7, before "collecting" 1 insert -.-and- Signed and sealed this 7th day of January 3975.

(SEAL) Attest:

r rccoy M GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL 'DANN Attesting Qfficer Commissioner of Patents v E. l i i i 

1. A METHOD OF DE-AERATING GREASES, COMPRISING FEEDING THE GREASE TO BE DE-AERATED TO THE INNER SIDE OF A CYLINDRICAL DRUM WHICH ROTATES AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, THE GREASE FEED RATE BEING CONTINUOUS AND SO HIGH THAT THE GREASE FLOWS ALONG THE INNER SIDE OF THE DRUM IN A THIN LAYER AND MEANWHILE DISCHARGES AIR PRESENT THEREIN, COLLECTING THE THIN LAYER AT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE GREASE INLET IN A STATIONARY DUCT WHICH EXTENDS OUTSIDE THE DRUM.
 2. A device for de-aerating greases comprising an approximately horizontally arranged cylindrical drum which is rotatable on a shaft and which is closed on one end face, a rim on the other end of the drum having a face which extends transverse to the shaft, a disc having an outer diameter which is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the drum being arranged inside the drum, the said disc being provided with a shaft which is passed out of the drum via the open side where it is clamped, a number of ducts in said disc which extend from the outer circumference inwards where they open into a further duct which extendS to the outside through the said shaft, a further stationary rim being situated opposite to the said face of the rim of the drum, the said further stationary rim having an annular recess which faces this face, the said recess communicating, through one or more ducts, with an inlet for the grease to be de-aerated.
 3. A device for de-aerating greases comprising a rotatably mounted drum having its longitudinal axis horizontally arranged and having one end thereof closed, a rim on the other end of said drum having a face extend transverse to said longitudinal axis, means communicating with the interior of said drum for supplying greases to be de-aerated on to said face of said rim, a body carried within said drum having an outer diametrical dimension only slightly smaller than the inner diametrical dimension of said drum and having a plurality of ducts extending from the outer circumference of said body radially inward for collecting the greases supplied to said drum, and means communicating with said ducts for collecting said de-aerated greases and passing said greases to the outside of said drum.
 4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said drum is carried on a rotatable shaft, and wherein said body is a disc carried on a shaft extending out of the open side of said drum, and a further duct extending through said shaft communicating with said plurality of ducts. 